Wander
Indiana
with Jennifer Niven’s
All the Bright Places
A 2015 Howard County
Reads Nominee
2015
Wander Indiana
with Jennifer Niven’s
All the Bright Places
A 2015 Howard County Reads Nominee
In All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven the students are
given the assignment to “Wander Indiana” and discover what
our state has to offer. This brochure will provide you with your
own opportunity to visit some of the unique places
mentioned in the book. The places included here
were either visited by the characters themselves or
were mentioned as potential places to visit. Don’t
forget to grab your copy of All the Bright Places so
you can follow Violet and Finch on their journey to
Indiana’s Bright Places.
Visited in the Book:
Hoosier Hill:
0900-11404 Elliott Rd, Lynn, IN 47355
Located in Wayne County this is the highest point in
Indiana at 1,257 ft. above sea level. The nearest city
is Richmond. Hoosier Hill is on private property but
thanks to the efforts of an Eagle Scout and his troop,
the area now has a gravel drive and a picnic table.
Bookmobile Park:
(Does not exist) Sadly, this location from
the book is the only one mentioned that doesn’t truly exist. Too bad
though, we would have loved to stop there!
Purina Tower:
505 N 4th St, Richmond, IN 47374
This 154 ft. tower is the location of the Purina Mills
Feed Mill in Richmond. Near Christmas time, lights
are hung at the top to resemble a Christmas tree.
Blue Flash and Blue Flash Too:
N Ivers Rd, Bruceville, IN 47516
These are homemade rollercoasters built by John Ivers, a self-described
adrenaline junkie. His homemade coaster is open weekends only from
June to September and only by appointment. The coasters have a
maximum weight of 180-200 lbs., but you will want to call to verify. They
ask that you be courteous and call before visiting. 812.324.9030
Painted Rainbow Bridge:
Rainbow Bridge, 6349-6357 Guilford Ave,
Indianapolis, IN 46220
Located in Indianapolis, you will find the Painted
Rainbow Bridge in Broad Ripple Village. The
multicolored bridge is meant to represent diversity
and fellowship.
Periodic Table Display:
313 S Locust St, Greencastle, IN 46135
Located in the DePauw University Julian Science
and Mathematics Center, this display houses many
of the elements of the periodic table for visitors to
see. Some of the more dangerous elements are
replaced with a photo of the person who discovered it
and the warning that to have the element on site would be
hazardous to your health.
Seven Pillars:
S Frances Slocum Trail, Peru, IN 46970
Sometimes called “The Cliffs,” these beautiful limestone formations are
located about four miles southeast of Peru along the Mississinewa River.
They were created by wind and rain over time.
www.miamicountyin.gov/sevenpillars
Lynching and Burial Site of the Reno Brothers:
St Ambrose Cemetery, Seymour, IN 47274
Old City Cemetery in Seymour is where you will find the gravesites
of the infamous Reno brothers who orchestrated the first train
robberies in the United States.
Empire Quarry:
Near Bedford, IN. Not accessible to the public
This quarry was the source for the limestone used to build the
Empire State Building.
Indiana Moon Tree:
200 W Washington St, Indianapolis, IN 46204
Located on the front lawn of the Indiana Statehouse,
this 30-year-old sycamore tree grew from one of
several seeds that were launched into space during
the Apollo XIV lunar mission.
Kokomo Hum: Somewhere in Kokomo, IN
Have you heard the hum? It’s supposedly still around for those that can
hear it. It has been attributed to manufacturing plants in Kokomo, but no
one has been able to locate its exact source or prove its existence.
Gravity Hill:
E Keller Hill Rd, Mooresville, IN 46158
Whether it is caused by ghosts or merely an
optical illusion, a number of stories surround
this mysterious hill in Mooresville. According to
local legend, if someone puts their car in neutral
they will supposedly roll up the hill, but we don’t
recommend trying it!
Blue Hole:
Prairieton, IN, Vigo County
You can find information about this legendary Blue Hole in the books
Weird Indiana by Mark Marimen and Hoosier Folk Legends edited by
Ronald L. Baker. It is supposedly bottomless, and strange items have
been hidden there throughout history. It has also been said to be the
home of a water monster or two.
Shoe Trees:
3826 S Devils Hollow Rd, Milltown, IN
This unusual landmark in Milltown is where old shoes go to rest or hang
as the case may be. People come from far and wide to toss a pair of
shoes into the tree. Local signs will point the way there.
Nest Houses:
Formerly found in New Harmony, IN
These houses were built by artist Patrick Dougherty.
They are made from saplings and natural materials
twisted together. As the characters in All the Bright
Places found out, these works of art don’t last long due to
the medium and the weather. If you want to see the latest art
by Dougherty, visit his website at www.stickwork.net.
World’s Largest Ball of Paint:
10696 N 200 W, Alexandria, IN
What started out as a baseball with a layer of paint
has turned into the World’s Largest Ball of Paint. Every
year visitors from all over come to add a layer to this
ever growing paint ball. If you are interested in adding
your own layer of paint, please be courteous and call
for an appointment. 765.724.4088
Pendleton Pike Drive-In:
Formerly located at 9300 Pendleton Pike, Lawrence, IN 46236
Opened in 1940 this was one of Indiana’s earliest drive-ins. Though it
closed in 1993, the screen was visible until it was pulled down in 2008.
Ultraviolet Apocalypse:
1628 Ridge Rd, Munster, IN
Located in Our Lady of Mount Carmel Monastery in Munster, Indiana,
this Memorial Chapel is shrouded in black lights and features the
archangel Gabriel and Jesus rising from the dead. Once you get used
to the darkness and black lights, you will see bronze placques lining the
walls—memorials paid for by families of the dead. The shrines are open
only on Sundays or by appointment. Call 219.838.7111 for details or
appointments. http://carmelitefathers.com/
Taylor Prayer Chapel
Highway 41 in Farmersburg, IN
The Taylor Prayer Chapel is a tiny church located near a gas station in
Farmersburg. According to the book All the Bright Places, it was built to
remember people killed in an auto accident.
French Lick, Indiana:
Since the 1800s people have come from far and wide to experience the
healing waters of French Lick. Now it is a resort community that houses
two hotels (French Lick Resort and West Baden Springs) which are both
considered Indiana landmarks. www.visitfrenchlickwestbaden.com
Mudlavia:
Kramer, IN
This is a lesser known resort that was famous in its day for the healing
properties of its mineral springs. In 1920 a fire in a linen closet caused the
hotel to burn down. Water from the spring that made Mudlavia famous is
still bottled and sold under the name Cameron Springs.
Mentioned, but not visited:
Conner Prairie:
13400 Allisonville Rd. Fishers, IN 46038
This interactive history park is a great place for
families to learn about Indiana’s past. Connor
Prairie provides visitors with the opportunity to learn
about what life was like in an 1836 Indiana prairie town
during the Civil War, and even in the1816 Lenape Indian Camp. You can
also try your hand at making candles or throwing hatchets. Conner Prarie
hosts many special events throughout the year that make your visit even
more exciting. www.connerprairie.org
Levi Coffin House:
113 US 27 N, Fountain City, IN 47341
Levi Coffin and his wife Catharine were Quakers who used their home as
part of the Underground Railroad. Sometimes referred to as
“The Grand Central Station of the Underground Railroad,”
the Levi Coffin house was the refuge of hundreds
of slaves. The home is now considered a National
Historic Landmark and is open to the public. See the
house as it would have looked when the Coffins lived
there and learn about the history of the Underground
Railroad.
www.indianamuseum.org/explore/levi-coffin-house
Lincoln Museum:
Formerly in Fort Wayne, IN
Unfortunately, the Lincoln Museum had to close its doors in 2008. It
held a wonderful collection of original photographs and memorabilia
commemorating Abraham Lincoln. Most of the collection was given to the
Indiana State Museum.
James Whitcomb Riley’s Museum
and Boyhood Home:
250 W Main St, Greenfield, IN 46140
Visit the home of the “Hoosier Poet” in Greenfield
and see some of his original poetry.
www.jwrileyhome.org
Indiana Dunes State Park: 1600 N
25 E, Chesterton, IN
Hike the sandy trails, nature watch, or
hang out at the beach. This great expanse
of sand along Lake Michigan is a beach
lover’s paradise. If you are really up for
a challenge, try to tackle the 1.5 mile 3
Dune Challenge. This hike will have you
hiking up the three highest dunes in the park.
After you are done, don’t forget to stop at the
visitor’s center for some free stickers and to
buy the t-shirt to show you completed the 3 Dune
Challenge! www.indianadunes.com
World’s Largest Egg
Corner of E Main St and S Morgan St in
Mentone, IN
While there is some dispute over who really has
the World’s Largest Egg, this is the only concrete
egg of its size. This egg weighs over 3,000 pounds
and is roughly ten feet tall. Mentone claims to be the
“Egg Basket of the Midwest,” and with an egg that size
you can believe they are serious about their eggs and the
Egg Festival for which it was created! www.mentoneeggcity.com
Hometown of Dan Patch the Racehorse:
Oxford, IN
Dan Patch the racehorse was born in Oxford in 1896. In 1906 Dan Patch
set the world record time of 1:55 in one mile: a record he would hold for
32 years. You can visit his memorial at the barn where he was born in
Oxford.
Market Street Catacombs:
222 E Market St, Indianapolis, IN
In the City Market in Indianapolis you can
tour our very own Indiana catacombs.
They are the only remains of Tomlinson
Hall, which burned down in 1958. Tours
are about 30 minutes long and a great
opportunity to explore some Indianapolis
history. Reservations are required.
www.indianalandmarks.org
Indiana Baseball Hall of Fame:
851 College Ave, Jasper, IN 47546
Located on the campus of Vincennes University the Indiana Baseball Hall
of Fame has been around since 1979. Since that time they have inducted
174 members of this great American sport. Tour the site and find out
more about the history of baseball in Indiana.
www.indbaseballhalloffame.org
Howard County Reads
brought to you by
howardcountyreads.org
www.